Most Popular Books by Noel Streatfeild

From Noel Streatfeild, the beloved author of Ballet Shoes, comes a moving story of unexpected friendships and new beginnings. When their father is injured in an accident, life changes for the Johnstone family. Unable to afford their home, they have to move to a small London flat. Carol can no longer go to ballet school and Tim is heartbroken as he must leave his beloved dog, Jelly, behind. Then, it seems, their wishes are granted: in an extraordinary twist of fate, Tim inherits a dilapidated country house, Caldicott Place, where the family - including Jelly - can live together. But the house is badly in need of repair and they have no money, so a solution is found - the family start to look after wealthy children in the school holidays. Although they dread the prospect of sharing their newly found home with rich spoiled children, perhaps friendships can be found in the unlikeliest places.

Tired of being world citizens, traveling with their brother on his tours as a violin prodigy, three children plot to find a home of their own and discover careers of their own in films and ballet.

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers'' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. Ballet Shoes, a Level 2 Reader, is A1+ in the CEFR framework. Sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the future tenses will and going to, present continuous for future meaning, and comparatives and superlatives. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages. Sisters Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil do not have parents, but they have a very kind uncle. The sisters learn to dance, act and sing at a dancing school. But soon they have no money. What will happen to them? Visit the Penguin Readers website Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys.

Near the end of the Second World War, Selina receives a parcel from America that contains a beautiful party dress and shoes. But her excitement turns to sorrow when she realizes she''ll never have a chance to wear the beautiful dress, until she and her cousins decide to organize a pageant.

Adolescence.

Emily Huckwell spent almost her entire life working for one family. Born in a tiny Sussex village in the 1870s, she went into domestic service in the Burton household before she was twelve, earning £5 a year. She began as a nursery maid, progressing to under nurse and then head nanny, looking after two generations of children. One of the children in her care was the father of Noel Streatfeild, the author of Ballet Shoes and one of the best-loved children''s writers of the 20th century. Basing her story on fact and family legend, Noel Streatfeild here tells Emily''s story, and with her characteristic warmth and intimacy creates a fascinating portrait of Victorian and Edwardian life above and below stairs.

Adolescence.

Autobiography of the English writer growing up in a succession of pre-World War I parsonages.

Three children, having lost their parents in an earthquake, come to England to live with their prim uncle and feeble aunt. Anna lives only to dance - but her uncle forbids her to have anything do with ballet. How will she survive?

BY THE AUTHOR OF BALLET SHOES with beautiful illustrations by Edward Ardizzone ''A joyous, sunlight book. For me, the best Noel Streatfeild of all'' HILARY MCKAY ''"You have a whole wing of the house to yourselves. The glorious world outside to play in. All that the earth brings forth to feed you, and you stand there asking foolish questions until my head reels. Help yourselves, children, help yourselves." Then, flapping her cloak as if to shoo off a clutter of chickens, Great Aunt Dymphna was gone.'' Summer will be different for the Gareth children this year. Their father, an epidemiologist, is ill abroad, and their mother must go to help him. So Alex, Penny, Naomi and Robin are sent to Ireland to stay with an eccentric distant relative. Great Aunt Dymphna is like nobody they''ve ever met. She lives in a ramshackle house, quotes swathes of poetry and flits about like a great bat. And, to the children''s consternation, she expects them to fend for themselves. Despite tears and many mishaps, they learn something new every day, and living with Great Aunt Dymphna becomes an adventure.

As her cousins find success singing and dancing on the stage, Gemma wins a coveted acting role in a local theatre production but may have to give it up when her mother makes a startling announcement.

Jane''s family is all set to go to America for a long time. Everyone is thrilled -- except Jane. How can Jane leave behind the only creature that loves her -- Chewing-gum, her beloved dog? Jane''s father, a writer with terrible writer''s block following a bad car accident, is invited to spend a year in America with his family to recover. Jane''s brother and sister are hugely excited, but Jane, the awkward middle child, can only think of the bad things about leaving home. Once in America, however, things change rapidly and Jane lands the star part in a Hollywood film! Before long she becomes much too big for her boots and has to learn about coming down to earth the hard way before the story ends happily.